Piston-packing.



Patented July 24, I900. J. T. WILSON.

PISTON PACKING.

(Applicatiun filed Nov. 9, 1899.}

(No Model.)

fiZU/LZZZT J070LZ77LZ5020.

one of the examples, showing a piston, a pack- Unites STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN T. WILSON, or JERSEY snonn, PENNSYLVANIA.

PISTON-PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,211, dated July 24,1900. Application filed November 9, 1899. fierial No- 736 302. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. WILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jersey Shore, in the county of Lycoming and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Piston-Packing, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the production of a piston-packing forengines which shall be rendered practically solid and rigid when theengine is Working steam, which shall be adapted to automatically adjustitself to the cylinder when steam is shut off, so as to compensate forwear, which shall be so arranged relative to the piston that steam willbe excluded from the interior or under surface thereof, and which shallpossess many other desirable features and characteristics especiallyadapting it to perform its proper functions.

With these main ends in view my invention consists of a piston having apacking-ring and a wedge-ring.

It further consists in a piston having a packing-ring and a wedge-ringso arranged as to exclude steam from the under side of the packing-ring.

It further consists of a piston having a packing-ring and a wedge-ring,the said packing-ring adapted to be held rigid when steam is on and toautomatically adjust itself when steam is shut off.

Finally, it consists in certain novelties of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate three pictured examples of thephysical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the bestmodes or methods I have so far devised for the application of theprinciple.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation view of ing-ring in position, and twowedge-rings, one on each side of the packing-ring. Fig. 2 shows theconstructive details of the packingring lap-joint illustrated in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 shows the lap-joint of the wedge-ring illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig.4 is a sectional elevation view of a second example, showing a piston,two packing-rings, and two wedge-rings. Fig. 5 illustrates theconstructive details of the packing-ring lap-joint shown in Fig. 4. Fig.6 illustrates the construction of the wedge-ring lap-joint shown in Fig.4. Fig. '7

is a fragmentary sectional View of a third example, showing a piston, apacking-ring, and a single wedge-ring.

Referring to the first example, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, thenumeral 1 designates an engine-piston. 2 is a groove extending entirelyaround the circumference of the piston. 3 3 designate walls of thegroove; 4 4, beveled sides of the walls; 5 5, flanges of the shapeshown; 6 6, holes made through the walls of the groove. 7 is a packingring made of any suitable material, size, and shape. 8 8 are the freeends of the packing-ring. 9 is a plate. 10 10 are seats made in the endsof the ring to receive the plate. 11 is atongue. 12 12 are slots made inthe ring to receive the tongue. 13 13 are rivets which unite the plate 9and tongue 11 to one end of the ring only. 14 14 are'wedge-rings locatedon opposite sides of the packing-ring and fitting against the beveledsurfaces of the. walls. 15 15 designate the two parts which constitutethe ring. 16 16 are rivets which hold the two parts in their relativepositions each side of their free ends. As shown in Fig. 3, thewedge-ring is composed of two complete rings 15 15, united to form acomposite ring. The top ring 15 is rectangular or L-shaped incross-section, and the bottom ring 15 is so fashioned as to form a seatfor the top ring, as clearly shown by the small sectional view in Fig.3. A small open space is leftbetween the free ends of each ring 15 15,so that a free end of each can move upon the other and allow thecomposite ring to expand and contract.

Referring to the second example, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6,the numeral 1 designates a piston. 17 17 are grooves in-thecircumference thereof; 18 18,the beveled walls of the grooves. 19 is acircumferential partition which may be integral with the piston or aremovable ring. 20 20 are flanges; 21 21, packing-rings, one in eachgroove and separated by the partition 19, as shown; 22 22, the free endsof one of the packing-rings. 23 is a plate L-shaped in crosssection, asshown in Fig. 4. 24 25 are seats made in the bottom and one side of eachof the free ends of the packingring to receive the L-shaped plate. 26 26are rivets which unite the plate to one end only of the packing-ring. 27is an opened space adjacent the free end of the plate 23, formed whenthe packing-ring is slightly expanded. 28 28 are the wedge-rings, eachof the construction shown in Fig. 6. 29 29 are the free ends of thering. 30 is a plate. 31 31' are seats or grooves within which the endsof the plate are frictionally held, as indicated.

Referring to the third example, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the numeral 1designates a piston. 2 is the beveled wall of one side of thegroove,which extends entirely around the circumference of the piston. 33is a packingring located in the groove. 34: is a wedgering, and 35 is ahole drilled through the wall of the piston.

The general relative arrangement of the packing-rings and wedge-rings inthe grooves of the pistons is obvious from the illustrations. Thelap-joint of a packing-ring and the lap-joint of a Wedge-ring should ofcourse occupy different positions within the circumference of thegroove, and the wedge-ring should be so disposed that it will lap theline X where the free end of the plate lies in frictional contact withits seats in the packingring, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus arranged therings will form a tight joint and exclude steam from the space beneaththe packing-ring. Any suitable means may be employed to hold the ringsin their relative positions within the groove.

In Fig. 1 a single packing ring is shown with a wedge-ring on each side.In Fig. 4 are two parallel grooves, with a packing-ring and a wedge-ringin each groove. In Fig. 7 a single packing-ring is used, with awedge-ring on one side only.

The mode of operation of the packing in each of the three examples issubstantially the same. Steam being admitted to the cylinder will passby way of the holes 6 to the top surface of the wedge-ring and force itdownwardly, which action will compress the packing-ring against theopposite wall of the groove, or, where two wedge-rings are used, as'inFig. 1, the packing-ring will be compressed between the two wedge ringsor against the one wedge -ring and the fiange 5 when such flange isused. This compression of the packing-ring renders it very solid andrigid and holds it against the interior surface of the cylinder under asubstantially constant frictional pressure. When steam is shut off, thepacking-ring can automatically adjust itself to the interior of thecylinder and take up wear, a feature of great importance. Inasmuch asthe wedge-ring and the packing-ring form a tight joint, steam cannotfind its way-to the under side of the packingring and force it with toogreat pressure against the surface of the cylinder, so as toinordinately increase the friction of the parts.

To allow any steam to escape which may by accident find its way underthe packing-ring; I in some cases may drill a hole through the wall, asat 35 in Fig. 7, especially where steam is applied to one side of thepiston only. In Fig. i the space 24 in the packing-ring would allow thesteam to escape. However, any suitable means may be employed for thepurpose.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have produced apiston-packing which fulfils all the conditions set forth as the objector end of my invention and which constitutes a superior means forperforming the desired functions;

While I have illustrated and described only three examples of thephysical embodiment of my generic invention, embracing two specificconstructions of packing-rings andtwo specific constructions ofwedge-rings, I do not thereby intend to limit the scope of the same tosuch examples, inasmuch as they only disclose certain modes of theapplication of the principle which can be applied by an indefinitenumber of other specific modes. Any type of piston can be selected forreceiving my packing-'- one having a single or a plurality of grooves,

with or without the flanges 5 or 20, and adapt ed for use in connectionwith any type of fluidpressure engine. Any style of packing-ring and anystyle of wedge-ring may be substituted for those shown and havingsimilar or dissimilar lap-joints. The shape of the rings is alsounimportant, provided they perform the required functions. The shape ofthe wedge-ring especially may be changed when a less or greater degreeof pressure is to be imparted to the packing-ring and its rigidityincreased or diminished. Regarding my invention as generic, I do notwish or intend to restrict its scope to any specific mode of applyingthe principle.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with apiston, of a packing-ring, and a wedge-ringsaid rings being arranged in parallel planes and adjacent within agroove formed in the circumference of the piston, and each of said ringshaving a lap-joint, and said lap-joints being located in different arcsof the circumference of the piston,whereby steam is normally excludedfrom the under side of the packing-ring, the said wedge-ring beingadapted to receive steampressure upon its circumferential surface;substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a piston, of a packing-ring, and a wedge-rin gthe said rings being arranged side by side in parallel planes within agroove made in the circumference of the piston and so disposed as toform a tight joint and exclude steam from the under side of thepacking-ring but admit it to the top of the wedge-ring; in substance asset forth.

3. The combination with a piston, of a packing-ring, and a wedge-ring;said rings being arranged in parallel planes within a groove formed inthe circumference of a pistonand j I'id so united as to normally excludesteam from the under side of the packing-ring, but admit it to thewedge-ring, and the said packingring adapted to be held rigid or solidby the wedge-ring when steam is on, and to automatically adjust itselfto the cylinder when steam is shut off; in substance as set forth.

4. The combination with a piston, of a packing-ring, and a Wedge-ring;the said Wedgering being located between a packing-ring and the wall ofa groove, and both rings so relatively disposed as to normally excludesteam from the under side of the packingring.

5. The combination with a piston, of a packing-ring, and a Wedge-ringarranged side by side in parallel planes Within a groove formed in thecircumference of the piston; the said packing-ring having a lap-jointcomprising the free ends of the ring, the plate 9, and the tongue 11; insubstance as set forth.

6. The combination with a piston, of a packing-ring, and a wedge-ringarranged in par allel planes Within a groove formed in the circumferenceof the piston; the said wedge-ring comprising the two parts 15 and 15'united to form a composite ring; in substance as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. W'ILSON.

Witnesses:

FRANK TRUMP, WM. R. PEOPLES.

